Whereas global experiments to study the atmosphere - ionosphere- magnetosphere coupling have received considerable emphasis during the last few years and are expected to receive more emphasis in the future, IAGA is concerned to learn about the planned discontinuation of incoherent scatter measurements at St Santin in 1986. Observations from St Santin are particularly valuable in the context of global studies because St Santin is the only mid latitude radar station in the European sector, and because measurements in the European sector and in the American and Asian sectors are required for separating local time and Universal Time effects. Accordingly, IAGA recommends that the responsible authorities in France examine every possible way to continue incoherent scatter operations of the St Santin facility for special campaigns beyond 1986.